Application of ZIF-67 based nitrogen-rich carbon frame with embedded Cu and Co bimetallic particles in QDSSCs

The catalytic enhancement of counter electrode materials is of an essential move for the overall evolution of QDSSCs. While the commonly used Cu 2 S/Cu counter electrode is easy to be eroded off by sulfur electrolyte, resulting in photoanode pollution. Herein, rough polyhedron Cu/Co@NCF composite is smoothly prepared via hydrothermal and synchronous doping method to replace Cu 2 S/Cu application. With the ZIF-67 as carbon source and morphology support, Cu and Co nanoparticles (NPs) are uniformly embedded in the carbon polyhedron without agglomeration, while the doping of nitrogen makes the composites have better porous structure. Combining the superior catalytic from Cu and Co particles with the electrical conductivity and stability from the carbon frame, the Cu/Co@NCF composite as QDSSCs counter electrode achieves an excellent photoelectric conversion effect (6.66%), close to that of Cu 2 S/Cu (7.29%). With stable and excellent counter electrode performance, Cu/Co@NCF composite unquestionably has the potential to be an alternative material for the CE application of QDSSCs.